Tubing cutter



Feb. 11, 1941. F. L. PRITCHARD TUBING CUTTER Filed Nov. 17, 1939 jLzwzema-z INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 11, 1941 UNIT-El) STATS rrewr j o'rrlcs TUBING CUTTER I I Frank L. Pritchard, Parker, Ariz. Application November 17, 1939, Serial Neeoaozs Claims. (01. 30-102) This invention relates to tubing cutters, the primary object of the invention being to provide a tubing cutter of the portable type which may be conveniently carried in the usual mechanics tool 5 box, and one which'may be readily and easily positioned over a tube to be out.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of this chanacter including a stationary jaw and a movable jaw, the movable jaw carrying a rotary blade mounted in such' a way that when the device has been positioned over a tube, and the rotary blade moved to contact the tube, the adjusting screw, forming a part of the device,'may be operated to force the rotary blade into close engagement with the tube to cause the blade to out into the tube and accomplish the purpose of the invention.

Another object of the invention is to provide a movable rotary blade support which is mounted on the movable jaw to pivot freely, the construction of the movable jaw being such that when the rotary blade is in its inactive position, the jaw may be moved longitudinally of the adjusting screw, eliminating the necessity of rotating the adjusting screw to move the movable jaw.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of means for norm-ally urging the movable jaw away from the stationary jaw, thereby providing a tube cutter, wherein the jaws are nor- 30 mally held in spaced relation for ready positioning over the tube to be out.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and ar- 35 rangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein described, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, with- 40 out departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a tube cutting device constructed in accordance with the invention, and illustrates a tube as positioned between the jaws of the device.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the device.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the device comprises a stationary jaw 6 and a movable jaw 6, the stationary jaw 5 being provided with an opening, through which the head 1 of the adjusting screw 8 operates, the head I of the screw 8, being formed with an annular groove 9. 'A pin indicated at H] extends through the stationary jaw B-an'd intersects the opening in which the screw 8 is positioned, the pinbeing so positioned that a portion thereof lies in the annular groove 9, holding the screw against movement longitudinallyofthe opening in the jaw 5.

Extending from the stationary jaw 5, is a pin H which operates through the bushing 24 positioned in an opening in the movable jaw 6, the bushing extending beyond the inner surface of the jaw 6. Opening's 'lz are formed in the inner surfaces of the jaws 5 and 6, and accommodate the ends of the coiled spring I3 which normally'acts to urge the movable jaw 6, away from the stationary jaw 5. A pin indicated at M extends from one end of the pin II, and provides a stop to limit the movement of the 'jaw 6 longitudinally of the pin H.

The outer surface of the jaw Bis covered with the plate I5, one end of the plate extending beyond one end of the jaw, to act as a finger piece to be engaged by the thumb of the person using the cutter, in pressing the tool in position on a pipe or tube to be out.

As clearlyshown by Figure 3 of the drawing, one end of the movable jaw 6 is formed with a cut-away portion extended inwardly to a point adjacent to the opening in which the adjusting screw'8 moves. The pivoted blade support I6 is formed with a reduced portion 11 fitted within the cut-away portion and pivotally held therein, by means/of the pivot pin l8.

The extension I! has its inner lower edge cut away, so that the pivoted blade support l6 may swing downwardly from a position as shown by Figure 1 of the drawing, to the inclined position as shown by Figure 2 of the drawing. Screw threads l9 are formed on the inner edge of the extension l1, and are adapted to cooperate with the threads of the adjusting screw 8, when the pivoted blade support 16 has been moved to its horizontal position. A pin indicated at 20 extends through the cut-away portion of the movable jaw 6, and operates in the elongated opening 2| of the pivoted blade support, the pin 20 restricting pivotal movement of the pivoted blade support. Thus it will be seen that due to this construction, the pivoted blade support I6 may swing downwardly until the threads thereof will be free of the threads of the screw 8. The movable jaw 6 may now be slid downwardly until the pivoted blade support is in its proper cutting position. The threads of the pivoted blade support l6 are now in mesh with the threads of the screw 8, with the result that when the screw 8 is rotated in one direction, the movable jaw will be moved towards the stationary jaw.

The pivoted blade support I6 is formed with a cut-out portion in which the disk-like blade 22 is mounted, the blade being so positioned that the cutting edge thereof extends below the pivoted blade support to engage the tube to be cut by the device.

The reference character 23 designates a handle or finger piece carried at one end of the screw 8, so that the screw 8 may be rotated to cause the blade 22 to be forced into engagement with the tube being cut, or moved away from the tube, when the screw is rotated, in the opposite direction.

The inner surface of the stationary jaw 5 is formed with a substantially V-shaped cut-out portion in which the tube being cut rests, and is held to prevent the tube from becoming displaced when the device is rotated around the tube in cutting the tube.

In the use of the device, the tube to be cut, is positioned on'the stationary jaw, and the movable jaw 6 ismoved or slid longitudinally of the screw 8, until the blade 22 engages the tube, in a manner as shown'by Figure 1 of the drawing. The adjusting screw 8 is now rotated to exert pressure on the blade 22, and the device is rotated around the tube. As the blade 22 cuts into the tube, the screw is operated to move the blade further into the cut formed by the blade, compensating for the space formed by the out.

After the tube has been properly cut, the pivoted blade support I6 is swung downwardly, and movable jaw 6 returned to the outer end of the adjusting screw 8, where it is in position to be readily placed over a tube to be out.

What is claimed is:

1. A tubing cutter comprising a stationary jaw and a movable jaw, an adjusting screw mounted for rotary movement in the stationary jaw and movable through the movable jaw, a pivoted blade support mounted on the movable jaw and having threads on the inner edge thereof adapted to engage the threads of said screw, whereby the movable jaw is moved towards and away from the stationary jaw, and a rotary cutting blade mounted on the pivoted blade support.

2. A tubing cutter comprising a stationary jaw and a movable ,jaw, a pivoted blade support mounted on the movable jaw-and having threads on the inner edge thereof, an adjusting screw extending through the jaws, said adjusting screw adapted to engage the threads of the pivoted blade support whereby the movable jaw is moved longitudinally of the screw, and said pivoted blade support adapted to move to disengage the threads thereof with the threads of the screw, so that the movable jaw may be slid longitudinally of the screw.

3. A tubing cutter comprising a stationary jaw and a movable jaw, an adjusting screw extending through the jaws, a pivoted blade support mounted on the movable jaw and having threads adapted to engage the threads of the screw moving the movable jaw longitudinally of the screw, said pivoted blade support adapted to be moved to a position to disengage the threads of the screw whereby the movable jaw may be slid longitudinally of the screw, a blade carried by the pivoted blade support, and means for normally urging the jaws away from each other.

4. A tubing cutter comprising a stationary jaw and a movable jaw, a screw extending through the jaws, a pivoted blade supportin member mounted on the movable jaw and having threads adapted to engage the threads of the screw, one corner of the blade supporting member being cut away providing a clearance whereby the blade supporting member may be swung to a position to disengage the thread of the screw whereby the movable jaw may be slid longitudinally of the screw, a pin connected with the stationary jaw and extending through the movable jaw, and a coiled spring mounted on the pin and disposed between the jaws for normally'urging the jaws away from each other.

5. A tubing cutter comprising a stationary jaw and a movable jaw, a pivoted blade supporting member mounted on the movable jaw, a screw connectin the jaws, said pivoted blade supporting member having threads cooperating with the threads of the screw, said pivoted blade supporting member adapted to be moved to disengage the threads of the screw, a plate on the movable jaw providing a cover for the pivoted blade support, said pivoted blade supporting member adapted to swing downwardly disengaging the threads of the screw-whereby the movable jaw may slide longitudinally of the screw for quick adjustment of the device to a tube, means for rotating the I screw, and means for normally urging the jaws away from each other.

FRANK L. PRITCHARD. 

